The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-17
The Long Island Bridge.

A company has long been chartered to build
another bridge over the East River, with
Blackwell's Island as central pier The object
Is to establish railway connection between
New York and Long Island. SO that passen-
gers may be transported for small fare and
in twenty minutes from the Grand Central
station to the great district at the north and
east OF Brooklyn. Such bridge, too. would
bring the whole Of Long Island within easy
railway communication with the mainland,
and furnish long-needed facilities for travel.
Thecompanyis required by an act passed
in 1885 to begin work before May, 1888, and
to construct the bridge from point on this
side Of the river between Fiftieth and Nine
ty-flrst streets at Fourth avenue. The plan
is to start from Sixty-fourth street
with station extending between Sec
ond and Third avenues, from which one
arm Of track will curve northward through
Fourth avenue, meeting the Fourth av-
enue tunnel at Eightieth street. and
another to the southwark and into the Grand
Central Station, while the elevated railroads
would be reached by an easy transfer But
now property owners in the vicinity OF the
approaches to the bridge make vigorous pro-
test before the Board Of Street Openings
against the building Of such connections, on
jury to the value Of their land and structures
We hope that these conflicting interests
MY be reconciled, for the construction of
suGh bridge and at the point fixed upon
has for many years been required by New
York. The one bridge to Brooklyn which we
now have Is insufficient for the needs of the
population, and another across the East
River at Blackwell's Island Ia an obvious
necessity. So long ago as 1867 a charter was
obtained for the project, but its execution
has been delayed until now when it seems
to be near at hand. and when the demand for
1t Is far greater than it was then.
We should make long step toward solving
the problem Of comfortably housing the
population whose work brings them to this
centre II once easy railway communication
with Long Island were established across.
this bridge; for there, within few minutes
of New York. millions Of people could find
homes the cost of whose construction
would be- for less than it can ever
be on this narrow island. Tho vast
extent OF the territory across the East
River which would be reached by means OF
the bridge. and its admirable adaptation for
the residence OF great population, make the
establishment OF such a connection an enter.
prise which Is bound to be carried out ulti-
mately. no matter what may be the obstacles
put in its way by private interest; but the
bridge ought to be begun at once, for it could
not be completed before several years, and the
population Of New York is growing at tho
rate OF $4,000 annually.
The bridge is to be known as the Long ISL
and Bridge, and will be 8! miles long and 1853
feet in height. height. sufficient to allow
the free passage Of shipping On the Long
Island side 1t will connect directly with the
existing railway system, and, by railroad
to be built. with the most thickly settled
part Of Brooklyn. tits one OF the most i'm
portant and necessary undertakings ever
proposed for the advantage Of the people of
New York